CHAPTER 1

The people who first settled the Blue Ridge Mountains came here in1730, and much of the history of the Blue Ridge can be accountedfor back to that period of time. As time passed, farms andsettlements grew across the mountains, but the pace of developmentwas not rapid. The first part of 1900 brought about changes, but indifferent ways from changes brought to other parts of the country.More specifically, the 1929 stock market collapse caused muchhardship and poverty.

The people in the mountains knew little or nothing about thestock market crash of 1929 leading to the Great Depression andthe resulting devastation it had caused. But they knew things werenot good. The collapse of the financial institutions and closing ofbanks seemed to cause everything to move on a downward trend.The closing of factories and businesses caused masses of people tolose their jobs, which led them to no longer be able to provide fortheir families. Word of civil disorder, suicides, losses of jobs and lifesavings, and widespread panic came pouring across the mountainsto the dismay of all. The people of the Blue Ridge were concernedthat all these happenings might keep spreading and somehow affectthem. Their concerns proved to be well founded.

These were strange times indeed, none of which made senseto the mountain folks, especially the suicides. They pondered whyanyone would kill themselves because of material possessions orfor any other reason. Their families and land and religious faithwere foremost in their lives. All else was secondary. Even the lossof land was no reason for suicide. To them, the Holy Bible had thelast word concerning such matters—"Thou shalt not kill," and thatincluded one's self. The good people of the mountains knew that.During both bad times and good times, lives must move onward.Sometimes they are changed in unimaginable ways that createchallenges, all of which must be confronted.

They believed that lives are often changed in different waysunique to each individual and the circumstances presented atthe time. People in the mountains feared the Great Depressionbecause they were aware they were not immune to events thatoccurred in places both near and distant. They had participated inthe Revolutionary War, the Civil War, World War I, and even theremoval of the Cherokee Indians from their beloved mountainhomes.

They were well aware that they did not live in a safe havenfree from all situations, serious as they may be. Issues continueand time moves on with each tick of the clock. The earth revolveseach day, the moon circles the earth every thirty days, and theearth completes its journey around the sun every year. So go thepredictable laws of physics that cannot be changed or challenged byhumankind. All else concerning humankind is subject to questionand change, with few exceptions. These are just a few of the factsevident and accepted by every interested person. Even issuesinvolving happiness or sadness are subject to these considerationsand facts.

The mountain folks were aware of their surroundings andthe things that must be done to survive and be reasonably happy.They had very little knowledge of the incalculable thousands oflaws governing the earth and the universe. But they did know andtook advantage of what they had and how to use each thing totheir advantage every day of their lives. Common sense made thedifference. Weather predictions, planting of crops, harvesting ofcrops, and physical healing were only a few of the commonsenselaws of nature that these intelligent mountain people consideredand used; these were the basis of their beliefs and their unbendingphilosophy of life.

During these hard and changing times, two young peopleborn and raised in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains met andtouched each other in ways that would alter their lives forever. Withodds against them, Millard Watson and Flora Holland decided tobe married and make for themselves a happy and prosperous life.Millard was from the small community of Birch Creek. Flora livedin a more mountainous section about ten miles to the north in aplace named Bald Ridge. They could not have selected a worsetime to begin a new life together. It was 1929, the year of the stockmarket crash. They were naive and failed to realize the full impactof their decision and how it could affect the remainder of theirlives.

Summer had arrived at last, following a cooler than usualspring. Weather permitting, a barn dance would be held everySaturday night and these festivities would continue until autumn.Millard and Flora met at that first barn dance in 1929. At that veryfirst dance, they immediately became attracted to each other. It was"love at first sight" as the old saying goes, but this was only partiallytrue. Flora was beautiful with red hair, emerald green eyes, and aslender body, and she was taller than most women. She was mostalways the prettiest girl at community gatherings or social events.

Everyone danced, and the moonshine flowed. Flora did notdrink whiskey except for an occasional sip to be sociable. Millarddid indulge to a moderate degree. Except for very short breaks, thebanjos, guitars, fiddles, mandolins, and a bass guitar rarely stoppedall night. The band enjoyed playing as much as the dancers enjoyedthe fine mountain music. Square dancing was the most populardance by far, but slower dances were popular as well. The waltz,two-step, and other slower dances fell into place as the hours passedon into morning and everyone was getting tired.

What a wonderful night it had been. Flora and Millard hadtalked and danced the entire night away. As Millard and Flora left,the sun was beginning to come up. "I am glad we met this night,"said Flora, looking at him adoringly. "I have a feeling this is aspecial night for us."

"It is a night I will never forget," Millard replied, "and I hope wewill have many more together."

Flora was seventeen, and most girls her age were alreadymarried. Even so, she was not prone to go against her parents'wishes. They had not told her so, but she knew they did not approveof her staying out too late.

"I am nervous about going home so late," she said to Millard,tilting her head up to meet his eyes. Millard was at least six feet tall,with muscular shoulders that complimented his perfectly balancedbody.

"Never mind," he assured her. "I will accompany you to the doorand accept full responsibility for the late hour."

As they approached her home, Flora could not avoid hopingno one would hear her arrive. The doors were never locked dayor night, but her father, Salem, was up early and met them at thedoor. Millard did exactly what he'd promised to do, and she couldtell her father respected him for that courtesy. Actually, after shethought about it later, she concluded that her father had little roomto complain. She had been told by more than a few that he had beenquite a rounder in his younger days and still was at times. Eventhought she had not dated Millard or even spoke to him beforethat night, that kind gesture from the gentleman he seemed to bemade dating him much easier and comfortable for her after theircourtship began.

She did not invite him in or show any indication that shewanted to see him again, but she was certain they would meet againsoon. He held her hand very briefly and said, "This has been one ofthe grandest nights of my life."

As he walked down the road from the house, she watched tosee if he turned and looked back. He walked a short distance andthen stopped and...